Body Dysmorphia

July 4, 2008

When most women gaze in the mirror, they may bemoan a blemish here or a wrinkle there. Imagine staring at your reflection for over two hours and hating your face so much that you never leave the house. Dr. Phil's guests say they are prisoners to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a preoccupation with a real or imagined physical defect.

Monster in the Mirror?Diana, 28, has suffered from BDD for over 13 years. She's undergone over 50 permanent make-up procedures, and didn't leave her home for two years because she thought she was hideous. Her mom and sister say it's painful to watch Diana deteriorate before their eyes.

Seventeen-year-old Cheyenne used to win beauty pageants, but now believes that she's an ugly, overweight girl with thunder thighs. Her mom, Bobette, wonders if she's the cause of her daughter's bad feelings.